Category: Gay Film

Colman Domingo stars in the sexy and thought-provoking gay drama ‘Beautiful Something’

Edgy, absorbing and raw, writer-director Joseph Graham’s Beautiful Something takes a fresh and unsentimental look at the links between young and old, black and white, sex and love and desire and art.

Cute, 22-year-old writer Brian (Brian Sheppard) continually crashes and burns with each guy he meets, but does not understand why.

The stunningly gorgeous Jim (Zack Ryan) is not afraid to break hearts – except when it comes to Drew (recent Best Actor Oscar-nominee Colman Domingo!), a 40-something lover and world-renowned metal sculptor who can’t seem to look past his latest masterpiece.

Lastly there’s Bob (John Lescault), a successful talent agent from Los Angeles. Now in his mid-sixties, he leads a double life as a sugar daddy for the random young men he picks up.

All four of these characters comb the streets looking for connection. While they often settle for quick and dirty sexual shenanigans, there’s something in the air on this particular night that suggests the outcome will be much different.

Gorgeously directed by Graham (whose electrifying breakthrough film Strapped is also available now on Dekkoo), Beautiful Something tells bold and unflinchingly honest stories about sexually-charged gay life in the most compassionate and understanding way possible.

Watch the trailer for Beautiful Something below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Straight friends take their relationship to a new level in the 12-minute short ‘I Don’t Know’

Two straight buddies find themselves unexpectedly pushing the boundaries of their sexuality in French writer-director Jérémy Barlozzo’s 12-minute comedy short I Don’t Know.

Best friends William and Clement (William Dentz and Clement Olivieri) both have a romantic interest in a girl named Alice (Noemie Schmidt).

After the trio have dinner together at Clement’s apartment, the buddies try to figure out which one of them she likes more. Soon, however, they discover that Alice is only really interested in going to bed with them if they come as a pair – and express the same level of desire for one another as they do for her.

With their comfort level challenged, the date doesn’t go particularly well. Alice leaves and the boys soon find themselves alone and reflecting on their open-mindedness about sexuality. After doing the dishes and sparking a joint, the prospect of sharing an intimate kiss suddenly doesn’t seem so unusual. William and Clement decide to attempt a passionate kiss and take their relationship to a new – and perhaps more emotionally evolved level.

Featuring terrific performances from all three lead actors, I Don’t Know is a thoughtful, funny and slyly sexy short about two straight boys learning some new tricks.

Watch a short teaser trailer for I Don’t Know below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Logan Miller stars in the gripping gay indie family drama ‘Take Me to the River’

Writer-director Matt Sobel’s assured directorial debut Take Me to the River tells the story of an artsy, confident and proudly gay California teen who is reluctantly heading to Nebraska with his parents for a for a family reunion.

Logan Miller, the charismatic, scene-stealing young character actor from Love, Simon, Escape Room and countless indie gems, stars as Ryder, the gay teen in question. Though his parents are supportive, there is some question over how the rest of their extended family will react to his lifestyle.

After planning to come out to his conservative relatives, he agrees to hold off at his mother’s request. Nevertheless, he makes a showy entrance at the cookout with his short shorts and eye-catching shades.

No one seems particularly impressed – except for a 9-year old cousin named Molly (played by Ursulla Parker), who follows him around adoringly. When they go to the barn to look for birds in the rafters and she comes back screaming and inconsolable, Ryder comes under suspicion from the rest of the family. In the process of clearing his name, he learns that some family secrets are better left in the dark.

Co-starring Robin Weigert, Richard Schiff and Josh Hamilton, Take Me to the River is a gripping, thoughtfully layered and superbly well-acted drama about clashing cultures, buried secrets and the ties that bind us.

Watch the trailer for Take Me to the River below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: With Thelma

A gay couple gets a crash course in parenting in the charming 14-minute short With Thelma.

When a volcano erupts in Iceland, it strands Vincent’s brother and sister-in-law overseas. Until planes start flying again, someone will need to take care of Thelma, their 2-year-old daughter – who has been staying with a no-longer-available family friend in Paris.

The task falls to Vincent and his partner Jean, who enjoy a pretty typical urban gay lifestyle and worry about their ability to manage a toddler. But when Thelma arrives, they rise to the occasion – learning all about the responsibilities of fatherhood through trial and error.

By the time Thelma’s parents are ready to return, the prospect of breaking up their makeshift family proves far more emotional than either of them expected.

Featuring incredibly funny performances from lead actors Jean La Peltier and Vincent Lecuyer – not to mention Thelma Balboni as the scene-stealing titular 2-year-old – With Thelma is a lovingly-crafted ode to all the joys and pressures of parenthood.

Watch the trailer for With Thelma below. The short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

A shy teen is caught between his family and the boy of his dreams in ‘I Love You More’

How much would you be willing to sacrifice to finally meet up with the man of your dreams? That’s the question at the heart of the new teen drama I Love You More.

For the better part of a year, Ben (Don Shala), a shy Kosovar teen, has been involved in a romantic online entanglement with a boy named Leo. Though they haven’t met in person, they are making plans to do just that. Leo, who lives in Germany, is expecting to come for a visit in just one month.

Falling into the bittersweet throes of first love, Ben spends most of his waking hours engaged in online pillow talk while daydreaming about the day when the pair will finally be together.

An unexpected wrench is thrown into the works when his mom announces that the family will soon be moving to America and starting a new life for themselves. Though this might seem like good news, Ben is not nearly ready to move. If they leave Kosovo, he might never have the opportunity to meet Leo in person again.

Longing for love and connection, Ben puts his family’s dreams on the line and struggles to finally come forward with his truth.

The debut feature from non-binary filmmaker Erblin Nushi, who based the story on their own experiences and feelings of isolation as a queer kid in Kosovo, I Love You More is a tender, resonant and gorgeously crafted coming-of-age drama.

Watch the trailer for I Love You More below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Mikey’s Army

When you are facing a crisis, who goes to battle for you?

In a time when queer kids face unprecedented attacks and hostility from lawmakers, educators and even their own families, writer Eric Ulloa and director Andrew Keenan-Bolger set out to make a short film that puts the beauty – and even magic – of queerness at center stage.

Mikey’s Army stars Markie Aquirre as Mikey Alvarez, a 16-year-old who finds himself at a pivotal moment. He must decide whether or not to be open and honest about his sexuality.

Not quite ready to come out on his own, Mikey unwittingly conjures a trio of guides who appear in an explosion of glitter and glitz. Backed up by a drag queen, an international pop star and an action film heartthrob, he finally finds the courage and confidence he needs to be honest about his feelings.

Featuring a cast of Broadway-regulars like Claybourne Elder and Krystina Alabado – alongside ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ alum Shuga Cain – Mikey’s Army is a thoughtful and touching film that aims to remind us that our differences can be superpowers – and that we’re never alone on the battlefield.

Watch a short teaser trailer for Mikey’s Army below. The 10-minute film is now available on Dekkoo.

An unexpected love triangle forms in Maryam Touzani’s acclaimed romance ‘The Blue Caftan’

Set in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas, The Blue Caftan follows husband and wife Halim and Mina (Saleh Bakri and Lubna Azabal), who run a traditional caftan store, specializing in hand-sewn, made-to-measure garments.

Together, they share a love for the craft, the beauty of fabrics, the history of the artisans and the skills passed down through generations. Most days Halim can be found carefully crafting traditional caftans with detailed embroidery, committing historical significance to each enduring stitch.

Trying to keep up with demand, the pair hire Youssef (Ayoub Missioui), a soft-spoken young apprentice who is eager to learn everything he can from his new mentor. But when Youssef’s interest in Halim takes a romantic turn, it sets up a deeply complicated and unexpected love triangle.

Mina observes the two men with a mixture of jealousy and chagrin as their attraction to one another grows stronger. The dynamics among the three of them begin to evolve in surprising ways that reveal depths of understanding, generosity, and kindness – and illustrate the possibilities of love even under the most difficult circumstances.

With her second feature film, writer-director Maryam Touzani perfectly captures the intimacy and tenderness in human relationships. The Blue Caftan tells a story of unparalleled adoration, one centered on laughter and longing over the popular expectations of love.

Watch the trailer for The Blue Caftan below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

A group of hunky gay athletes get personal in the short sports documentary ‘Soccer Boys’

Years ago, a group of athletic gay friends in Brazil got together to play soccer. After founding the team, they never could have imagined the popularity that would soon come their way.

There is now an entire gay football league in Brazil, consisting of eighty teams and a legion of fans. They even have national playoffs.

In the short documentary Soccer Boys, filmmaker Carlos Guilherme Vogel focuses his lens on the BeesCats Football Club as they prepare to compete in the upcoming Diversity Cup.

In candid interviews, the players discuss important issues regarding homosexuality in sports and homophobia in contemporary society.

The film closely follows two players on the first gay football team in Rio de Janeiro, who explain how joining the team has changed their lives for the better.

Soccer Boys is a touching tribute to gay athletes, offering inspiring messages about activism, self-realization, gay pride and following your dreams, wherever they may lead you.

Watch the trailer for Soccer Boys below. The full 14-minute documentary is now streaming on Dekkoo.